Case.



A. A. ROLAN.

CASE.

APPLICA'HON FILED oc'r. 2. 19:3.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

/ ATTORNEYS.

'r COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 0., WASHlNGTON D. c.

UNITE i are if ANDREW A. ROLAN, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HAVONE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW A. ROLAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cases which-may be used for any purpose, and are intended more especially for receiving various articles of personal use, such as toilet articles, cigars, cigarettes, matches and the like, of the type provided with one or more hinged walls or lids so as to permit ready and frequent access'to the contents thereof, and in which the contents are received in a centrally or substantially centrally arranged holder which stands away from the lids or walls of the case to prevent breakage of articles placed therein and to give increased convenience of access to the articles carried in the case.

A case of this general type is shown in the patent to Pedersen, No. 890,703, issued June 16, 1908, and the object of the present in vention is to improve the construction of cases of this sort in numerous important respects.

As it is desirable that such cases may be opened with one hand, the lids are preferably held closed by a spring catch, and when the catch is released the lids are caused to fly open by the action of a spring.

As the holder must stand away from the lids when open and must fold back close to the lids when the case is closed, spring means of some character are essential for the purpose of permitting the holder to take up its several positions.

When the spring for causing the lids to separate is coiled about the hinge pintle, several difficulties are presented, as for example, such coiled spring must be exposed on the exterior of the case or special cover ing appliances must be provided to prevent its exposure, and the lids must be specially formed to provide for its reception, and in the assembling of the parts care must be taken to insert the spring and to see that it functions properly.

In a device constructed in accordance with my invention the special spring for opening the case is dispensed with and the spring means provided for positioningthe 1 holder in the case is made to perform the function of the spring which has been eliminated, as well as the function formerly served by it.

A case so constructed has numerous advantages over prior practice; it is neater, cheaper to make and more substantial and less likely to get out of order. Other advantages will appear in the course of the detailed description, and with the foregoing and related objects in view, my invention consists in the parts, improvements and combinations herein set forth and claimed.

While a specific form is shown and described, the same is for the purposes of illustration only and my invention is not confined thereto, but changes may be made therefrom within the scope of my claims without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification and wherein the same reference numerals are applied to the same parts throughout, Figure 1 is an edge view of a case constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the interior arrangement in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, central, cross-sectional view similar to-Fig. 1, and showing the hinge and connected portions on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a central, cross-sectional view showing the case opened. Fig. 4: is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the hinge and neighboring parts. Fig. 5 is a top View of a modified form of case in which the lids are curved. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 55, Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 2 and 6, and showing a further modification.

In the said drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of myinvention is illustrated, reference numerals 1, 1 are applied to designate the lids or walls of the case which are shown as substantially identical in form, though there is no necessity for this and the lids or walls may differ in form from one another to any desired extent. The walls 1, l are hollow and are of such form that they provide a receptacle therebetween, and these lids meet at their inner edges all around as shown, and are preferably provided at their meeting edges with an inwardly extending flange or bezel 1 which. preferably extends entirely around the inner margin of each lid, as shown. The

, lids 1, 1 are hinged together at one margin,

preferably at the lower end of the case, and the hinge may be formed by forming the lids 1, 1 with inturned, longitudinally apertured portions 2, and passing the pintle 3 through the openings 4 therein, parts of the said portions 2 being alternately cut-away on the two lids so as to form a hinge between the lids which is continuous except where spaces are left for receiving the legs of the interior holder hereafter to be described, and there being no spring or other device in the hinge for opening the lids, there is no necessity of making any provision at the hinge for a spring or other means for opening the lids.

The holder, which is arranged on the in terior of the case, may be of any desired form according to the use to which the case is -to be put, as for instance, if the device is made use of for a vanity case, a holder adapted for receiving such articles as would be placed therein is provided, or if used for matches or other articles, different forms of holders are provided, as will be understood. In the form illustrated, a holder for cigarettes is shown, and the same consists of a central frame 6 provided with recesses 6 for the reception of cigarettes and with spring supported side members 7 which are lightly held against the central frame 6 as by means of springs 8 applied at the pivots 9; The frame 6 of the holder is pivoted on the same hinge with the lids 1, 1, and in the construction shown this is accomplished by providing legs 10 which are formed preferably of sheetma-terial, as shown, with an opening at 11 to encircle the pintle 3 and with a head 12 which may be secured to the holder frame 6'by welding, or soldering or in any other usual manner. Two of the legs 10 are preferably provided, one on each.

end of the frame 6, so that the holder is securely pivoted at two separated points on the same hinge with the lids 1, 1.

The means provided for maintaining the holder 6 in position out of contact with the lids 1, 1 and also for spreading the lids apart when released, is preferably arranged between the legs 10 and comprises a post 13 which is received in a recess 14: in the frame 6 of the holder, and a spring 15 is arranged so as to tend to project the post 13 toward the hinge of the case, and acombined cam, knife-edge and stop-member 16 is secured to the lower end of said post and is provided with a knife-edge 17, cam-faces 18 and wings or stops 19 at its ends which take over the bezelsl, l of the lids 1, 1 or other means formed on the lids 1, 1 for this purpose, and thereby act as stops to limit the outward movement of the lids 1, 1.

, When the catch 20 is released by pressing on the thumb-piece 21, thus releasing the lids, the knife-edge 17 of the member 16 being forced by the pressure of the spring 15 between the bezels 1 1 or such other upstanding portions as may be' provided, operates to separate them and thereby to spread the lids 1, 1 apart, and as the camsurfaces 18, 18 come in contact with the edges of the bezels 1*, 1 this separation is continued by the action of the spring 15 un til thesaid bezels come in contact with the wings 0r stops 19, 19. In cases where it is desired to have the lids open out flat, the wings or stops 19, 19 may be dispensed with,

and a member 16 constructed in this man- 7 the member 16 and the parts coacting therewith, and to prevent derangement of the parts from this cause, the post 13 is made of such cross-sectional'form that it cannot turn in the recess 14. As shown the post 13 is square and the recess 14, in at least some portion of its length, is likewise made square or substantially so, and with this arrangement the post 13, whilefree to move in and out of the recess 1 1 as the lids are closedor opened, cannot rotate therein, and v the member 16 isialways so held ithatfthe knife-edge 17 thereon is in line with the edges of the bezels or flanges of the lids.

When a case formed in accordance with my invention-is tolbe carried in the pocket, it isdesirable to give it a slightly curved form in order to conform to theperson of the holder in place maybe offset'to one side of its actuating post, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the post in the holderis designated by the reference numeral 14, and the ofiset cam and knife-edge and stopmember by the referencenume'ral 16'.

With a device constructedas described, the single spring in the holder serves to position the holder in thecase and to maintain it, at all times, substantially centrally between the lids 1, 1 and also'to open the case when the catch is released.

It is desirable at times to open the lids 1, 1 to their fullest extent even when the stops 19, 19 are provided, and this result may readily be accomplished with the'conby releasing the stop 19 on the opposite side p from its connection with the lid on that side, whereupon the lid may be opened to such extent as'may be desired, permitting-more convenient access, as for cleaning or blowing out refuse which may have collected in the bottom of the lid near the hinge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a case, a. pair of lids hinged together, an intermediate holder, and a single spring means arranged in the holder away from the lid hinge for causing the lids to open and for maintaining the holder in a substantially central intermediate position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a case, a pair of lids hinged together, an intermediate holder pivotally mounted on the same hinge with the lids, and a single spring means arranged in the holder away from the lid hinge for opening the lids and for maintaining the holder in a position substantially midway between the lids, substantially as set forth.

In a case, a pair of lids hinged together and provided with interior bezels adjacent to the hinge, a holder pivoted on the lid hinge, a cam-member on said holder, and spring means for forcing said cam-member between the said bezels, substantially as set forth.

a. In a case, a pair of lids hinged together and provided with interiorly extending portions adjacent to the hinge, a holder pivoted on the lid hinge, a member on said holder provided with a knifeedge, and spring means for forcing said member into contact with the said lid portions and for inserting said knifeedge therebetween, substantially as set forth.

5. In a case, a pair of hinged lids, an intermediate holder pivoted on the lid hinge, and spring means projected from said holder and entering between said lids and serving to'open said lids and to maintain said holder in a substantially central position, substantially as set forth. 1

6. In a case, a pair of hinged lids, an intermediate holder pivoted on the lid hinge, said holder being provided with a vertical recess, a post in said recess, a spring tending to push the post out of said recess, a member on said post provided with cam-surfaces and with an intermediate knife-edge and with stops to limit the outward movement of the lids, substantially as set forth.

7 In a case, a lid, a hinge on which the lid swings, a cam adapted to slide against said lid and toward the hinge to open the lid, and a spring for actuating the cam.

8. In a case, a lid, a hinge on which the lid swings, a cam movable radially toward and from the hinge, the cam bearing on the &

lid to open the lid when the cam moves toward the hinge, and yielding means for forcing the cam toward the hinge.

9. In a case, a pair of hinged lids, each provided with a bezel edge, a holder secured on the hinge, and pressure imparting means on the holder for opening the lids by pressure exerted between the bezels and tending to force them apart, substantially as set forth.

10. In a case, a pair of hinged lids, a holder between the lids, a single pressure imparting means mounted in the holder and having a bearing on each lid adjacent to the hinge to push the lids apart, the bearing thereof on both lids being maintained when the lids are in open position, and means for holding the lids in closed position, substantially as set forth.

11. In a case, a pair of lids hinged together and provided with interiorly extending portions adjacent to the hinge, a holder pivoted on the lid hinge, a member on said holder provided with a knife-edge, means for holding said member against rotation, and spring means for forcing said member into contact with the said lid portions and for inserting said knife-edge therebetween, substantially as set forth.

12. In a case, a pair of hinged lids, an in termediate holder pivoted on the lid hinge, said holder being provided with a vertical recess, a post slidable in said recess, but maintained against rotation therein by the respective conformation of the recess and post, a spring tending to push the post out of said recess, a member on said post provided with cam-surfaces and with an intermediate knife-edge and with stops to limit the outward movement of the lids, substantially as set forth.

13. In a case, a pair of hinged lids, an intermediate holder pivoted on the lid hinge, said holder being provided with a vertical recess squared at at least one point in its length, a square post in said recess, a spring tending to push the post out of said recess,

4 a member on said post provided with camsurfaces and with an intermediate knifeedge and with stops to limit the outward movement of the lids, substantially as set forth. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I hereto set my hand, this 30th day of September 1913.

ANDREW A. ROLAN. Witnesses:

VVILLIAM APPE, MARGARET A. JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

